The Galing Pook Foundation officially turned over the Galing Pook Award Marker to the province of Iloilo for successfully implementing the Zero Open Defecation program.
Galing Pook Foundation Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento led the ceremony on February 28, 2024, at SM City Iloilo together with SM Prime Holdings Consultant for Disaster Risk Resilience Alexander Pama who is also an Ilonggo.
They were joined by Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero, DILG Provincial Director Carmelo Orbista, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Board Member June Mondejar, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, among others.
Sarmiento lauded Defensor for his passion for governance through the implementation of the Zero Open Defecation program which aims to achieve sustainable sanitation for Ilonggos, thereby improving their quality of life. Iloilo is the first province in Western Visayas to achieve the Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) Grade 1 Status.
The Zero to Limpyo Iloilo: Movement for a Province-wide ZOD program was also one of the 10 awardees of the 2023 Galing Pook Awards conferred last October 12, 2023.
“What we need in government are passionate people. And that’s what Governor Defensor and the rest of the team in Iloilo Province showed to everyone,” he said.
Sarmiento congratulated Iloilo for winning the “Oscar Awards” for local government, adding that Galing Pook is the “toughest” governance award given to LGUs.
He also commended the province for mobilizing the community and using a people-centered approach in its program, highlighting the importance of people participation in governance.
Governor Defensor said the provincial government will use the criteria and standards of Galing Pook in elevating their work and achieving a high level of governance.
“What the Galing Pook has given to us more than the award are the standards – standards that we will use in levelling up our work, our programs, and our projects. Because our mantra in the province is that good governance is a standard, not an objective,” he said.
Moreover, as part of the Galing Pook Roadshow in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the foundation also unveiled the “Galing Pook @30 exhibit” featuring the entry of Iloilo Province at the SM City lower ground floor which will run until March 7.
The 2023 Galing Pook Awards will also be shown at all SM City Cinemas as part of the company’s support in achieving disaster resilience.
(Capitol News)